Fun Home Reviews!!!!- Page 2

[jv92]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 12:03pm

That woman is not an actual critic in my mind, so I don't take her seriously. Does anyone remember her synopsis...I'm sorry, REVIEW...of THE NANCE? She can't write well at all, and she certainly doesn't have much taste.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 12:10pm

I actually agree with her points. For the first 90mins I was thinking "Why is Judy Kuhn in this?" She really doesn't do anything. She has a little song snippet and that's about it. While the kids have a few songs to sing, and then the boys are never mentioned again. I was kind of curious to know how the boys felt about their father, about allison etc, but we never got that angle. I know the focus is on here, but would have been nice for every character to have a throughline.

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 12:12pm

@RippedMan

agreed. good points.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 12:17pm

I've never actually watched an AndrewAndrew review (mainly because I don't care to watch videos) but I took a chance after hearing how stupid this one was. Boy, that is something. I hope shows don't comp these dolts in hopes that they will produce anything close to a coherent review. Aside from the ridiculous Cole Escola comment, they said Jeanine Testero [sic] did Caroline and Change. Saying that it wasn't a good idea for her to come out to her suicidal father is just a ludicrous statement. Please stop making these videos if you know nothing about which you speak!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 12:56pm

Wow.... AndrewAndrew...that sounds terrible.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 1:23pm

I'm so thrilled that they're getting these kinds of reviews. I hope they get another extension, at the very least. The show isn't perfect, but it is one of the most exciting new musicals I've seen in a long time and it would be amazing if it gets some life beyond NYC and the Public.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/23/13 at 2:23pm

I really like this paragraph, the last in Brantley's review.

“Children begin by loving their parents,” Oscar Wilde wrote. “After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.” Every phase of that epigram seems to be taking place simultaneously in “Fun Home.” But this show has room for forgiveness, too. It knows that in those endless enigmas we call family, judgments are never final, and love never fades altogether. Within such uncertainty, “Fun Home” finds a shining clarity that lights up the night.

And AndrewAndrew, that review is so amateurish, you should beg BWW to take it down! Updated On: 10/23/13 at 02:23 PM

[indytallguy]

Posted: 10/25/13 at 5:56pm

Interesting assertions from Teachout in his review today. Praises the show overall, but feels that the book has left out/distorted/under-represented some of the characters' nature and tone that is in the book.

I haven't read the book, but wonder if others who have agree with the specific comments he makes.
Terry Teachout/WSJ on Fun Home

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/25/13 at 6:11pm

Hey, that's After Eight's favorite critic.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/25/13 at 6:13pm

"I hate reviews like that Time Out NY one. He gave it 4 stars, and yet didn't say a bad thing about it. And even called it ground-breaking. So why not give it 5 stars? Explain yourself!"

The Time Out review doesn't read like a 5 star rave. Not saying anything bad about something doesn't equal a 5 star rave. I would agree that Fun Home is groundbreaking, and deserves serious credit for it; still my own reaction is mixed-positive, not nearly a 5 star one.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/25/13 at 6:50pm

I liked it a lot and think it is absolutely worth seeing and important- but would agree I would personally give it 4/5.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/25/13 at 7:45pm

^ Agreed. It's certainly an important, very-well written piece of theater, brought to life by an incredible cast, but I'm not quite sure if it's the flawless masterpiece some claim it to be.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 4:50am

I'm thrilled that the critics agreed that Fun Home is ground breaking, and terrific. I really hope it has a new life beyond the Public.

For the few of you who are poo-pooing the show, I'm guessing you didn't see it. If you actually saw it, you would be raving.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 8:45am

Who is poo-pooing it?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 8:52am

I don't know if I'm one of the alleged poo-poo'ers, but I assure you I did see it, liked it but genuinely think that it doesn't succeed nearly as well as it could and genuinely believe that among its many strength are some major problems. Obviously, others disagree with me.... that's show business.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/26/13 at 3:13pm

What problems? I'm curious. Major problems. What?


Be specific..



Updated On: 10/27/13 at 03:13 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 10:18am

"What problems?"


Dismal, doleful, and depressing. Ugly songs. No wonder the critics raved!


"Groundbreaking."

One needs to be careful here. Both as word and concept, this term has been so cavalierly -- and malignly -- misused, it has become something of a con.

Let's look at things squarely as they are, shall we? Just because something "breaks new ground" doesn't mean the results are necessarily good. One can break up the ground of a beautiful garden and turn into a toxic waste dump. Does that mean the world is any better off for that?

As far as our beloved theatre is concerned, the "groundbreakers" have done neither it nor us any favors. Some years back, a stinker entitled Finer Noble Gases "broke ground" by having an actor face the audience and urinate into a large drum. Was our theatrical heritage enhanced by that "groundbreaking" moment?

As far as the opus in question is concerned, there is absolutely nothing groundbreaking about it with respect to its subject, as gay women have already been the protagonists of past shows, including at least one musical, as reported on this board, and family dysfunction has long been a staple of our stages. Yes, it may very well be true that we have never previously experienced a child miauling her longing for a delivery woman in blue jeans. The problem is, our theatre was far better off without such a "groundbreaking" moment.

Sometimes it's better to leave the ground alone, edges unsharpened, and envelopes unpushed.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 11:10am

Whether or not you are able to identify with it (or have a soul), the show does approach some experiences that many people can relate to that have never been so specifically or honestly examined in musical theatre. Ring of Keys, which you are so vulgarly reductive of, is an example of this. You are like some grotesque caricature of a crotchety, dismissive old coot. Of course you feel comfortable lumping together this deeply human show with pissing in a bucket.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 11:48am

Ignore AfterEight, as he certainly does not speak for me and my problems with calling the show flawless.

Many of us addressed our issues with the show in our "review" posts about it. None of us are taking a crap on it. Some people just don't think it's a masterpiece. How is that "poo-pooing" it...? I still have no problem calling it a great, important musical. Relax.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 11:56am

After Eight,

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 11:57am

What problems?

Some underwritten roles, especially mom; some great songs mixed it with some cutesy numbers that go over well with the audience but which I found trite, uneven in terms of genuine poignancy and forced dramatic tension, the opening number didn't work for me and pinpoints a big problem - the show approaches generalized family dysfunction as if it were shattering a glass ceiling that was pulverized decades ago.

I thought the coffin production number was awful, however crowd pleasing.

The show could go even further in exploring what is groundbreaking in it - the conflict between two generations of gay people, when it gets there - the keys song, especially, and a few of the book scenes, it's a home run, but it needs more of a throughline in contrasting the experiences between father and daughter.

The score runs the gamut between full out brilliant - the keys song, changing my major, the finale - and generic uberdrama and cutesy failure.

Yes, I know, many disagree with me and think the show is thoroughly on track. I didn't see it that way. Instead, I see a piece of serious musical theater composition that could be thoroughly satisfying with more work, could actually be extraordinary for its many highlights and for me doesn't reach that level because of these issues I have with it.


Updated On: 10/27/13 at 11:57 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 12:45pm

I have to strongly disagree with your point about comparing the generations of gay people any more than it does. What strikes me as particularly groundbreaking about this show is that there is a dominant character played by a powerhouse Michael Cerveris who somehow never takes over the entire proceedings. This remains Alison's story, this remains Alison's memory play. I think it's a remarkable achievement.

People also need to realize that the show is true to the novel in regards to the presence (and lack thereof) of Alison's mother. I admire Judy Kuhn for taking this role that is a part of the foundation upon which Alison's story stands.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 12:51pm

Thanks, Finding Namo, I have not but very much want to read the novel. But being true to the novel is not the same as being successful as a show; obviously I may well be in the minority in feeling that this is strong stuff that still misses its mark; clearly the majority love it with few if any qualifications.

Updated On: 10/27/13 at 12:51 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 1:01pm

After Eight seems to want three things especially from musical theatre. Traditional lushness, life-affirming themes and characters and an overall joyous tone. Nothing is wrong with any of those things, and I have certainly enjoyed many productions with these attributes.

On the other hand, none of those things especially speak to or reflect the views, experiences, or entertainment preferences of the past few generations as a whole, hence why we get more and more shows with tones between cynicism and bleakness, whether played for comedy, tragedy or anything in between. Even RENT is celebratory of living in the shadow of death, not celebratory of the beauty of life itself, as you would see in many a Jerry Herman type show.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/27/13 at 1:03pm

I would agree with Namo that the mother's stage time is fairly similar to her appearances in the book (there's a reason Bechdel saw it fit to create a second installment focusing on her). "Days" basically encapsulates the woman's entire struggle in the book efficiently.